Africa Cup of Nations – Mahrez scores penalty to give Algeria a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso and advance to the Round of 16.

The second round of group stage matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has concluded, with Algeria defeating Burkina Faso 1-0. This victory secured their second consecutive win and made them the top team in Group E, becoming the third team to advance to the round of 16 in this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

In their match against Burkina Faso, Algeria broke the deadlock just 23 minutes into the game with a penalty: In the 21st minute, Rajan Ait-Nouri cut inside from the left wing into the penalty area and was brought down by Ismaila Vedraogo, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Riyad Mahrez converted the penalty himself, making the score 1-0.

After that, both teams wasted several scoring opportunities. In the 35th minute, Baghdad Buneja made a long pass from the right wing to the far post of the penalty area, where Ibrahim Maza, facing two defenders, chose to pass the ball back. Mohammed Amura immediately took a shot, but it missed the target due to the timely recovery of the opposing players. In the 43rd minute, Bertrand Traoré's corner kick from the right caused chaos in the penalty area, and Pierre Landry Cabre's header hit the right post. In the 5th minute of first-half stoppage time, Mahrez made a run down halfway and delivered a precise through ball, but Amura's curling shot was saved by goalkeeper Hervé Cofi.

After the break, both sides continued to exchange attacks. In the 62nd minute, Traore delivered a cross from the edge of the penalty area, and George Minongu's low shot went just wide of the post. In the 67th minute, Bunedja's through ball from the left wing found the onrushing Maza, whose powerful shot went slightly wide. In the 69th minute, Bunedja broke through on the left side of the penalty area and crossed to the center, where Maza's close-range shot was saved by Kofi.

In the 75th minute, Rafik Bergali crossed from the right wing at a 45-degree angle, and Hisham Boudaoy's header inside the penalty area went wide of the left. In the 77th minute, Mazar sent a through ball from the left wing, and Nouri broke into the penalty area and fired a shot that was saved by Kofi. In the 83rd minute, Edmund Tapsoba and Lassina Traoré completed a header exchange from a corner kick, but it was easily caught by Luca Zidane.

In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, Burkina Faso launched a final attack on Algeria. With Ciriak Irie's header saved by Zidane, Algeria secured a 1-0 victory.